AU interior design major given national recognition
“With the sponsorship of HGTV, we are able to communicate the importance of design to a larger audience of design enthusiasts and underscore the value of education. The caliber of the work submitted gives great hope to the future of an industry which thrives on improving the human experience.” “HGTV is proud to partner with ASID on this initiative which honors future designers, sustainability and social good. This competition underscores the value of how thoughtful planning can create spaces with purpose, one of the principles of good design.” Vikki Neil, Senior Vice President & GM of HGTV Digital. Brecht’s winning entry, “On Track” featured the repurposing of rail lines and rail cars in her home town of Lancaster, SC, hit so hard by the economic depression that in 2008, it was named the most vulnerable town in America by Forbes.
Anderson University Interior Design major Misty Brecht has been recognized by The American Society of Interior Design for her initiative to improve conditions in her hometown of Lancaster, SC. The national competition was sponsored by HGTV. The competition’s theme REPurpose For Today challenged design students to create an environment that helps address a current social crisis through design of an existing structure.
“There is no better way to demonstrate design’s real world impact than to highlight the work of our design students’ solutions to some of our world’s most important social issues,” - Randy Fiser
ASID EVP and CEO
In the essay supporting her design, Brecht described her initiative: There are not enough jobs for all the displaced workers. Surrounding cities with better economic conditions offer relief, but the commute can prove too far and too expensive for many people. Providing a less expensive and more sustainable method of travel allows more people to work outside of Lancaster, thereby decreasing the unemployment rate. Underutilized existing railroad systems provide the possibility for the much needed link for transportation from Lancaster. This connection opens the potential for many more job opportunities in a wider variety of career fields and, thereby, lowering the unemployment rate. Reopening the rail lines for passenger travel and reusing existing passenger cars is a sustainable solution to utilize the existing track infrastructure to its fullest potential, getting both the trains and people’s lives back on Track.
FA C U LT Y A N D S T U D E N T S
| 17